Groupon Guide

Gone are the days of chlorine-green hair styled by hours spent doing laps in your neighbor’s above-ground pool. Well, they’re gone for most adults, save for the unlucky few (cough, me) who take on at-home hair-dying tasks that have decidedly algae-like consequences ... more on that below.If swamp hair and Coachella-esque flower crowns aren't your thing—you're in luck. I’m here to bring you some summertime hair ideas that will keep you lookin’ cool, even when the heat index is in the 100s. I've also broken down when it's worth it to shell out extra bucks for some professional help, and when its better to save some green (both in your wallet and on your head).Let’s get into it!Save ... your hairspray and heavy-weight products for cooler, less-humid months.
OK, I’ll admit it: I’m obsessed with hair products. When I’m not slathering LA Looks Mega Hold hair gel into my curly hair (I’ve been swearing by it since 1999, why stop now?), I’m spraying so much glue-like hairspray over the finished product, I should seriously consider wearing some sort of respiratory protection. For the most part, this works for me. I’m even willing to bet my curly girls out there are nodding their head in agreement on this. But summertime calls for a different style routine, no matter your hair type.Splurge ... on Oribe texturizing spray for volume, a beautifully packaged gift from the heavens.The day I discovered Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is one I’ll never forget, because it seriously CHANGED MY HAIR AND LIFE. Some folks use it as a dry shampoo alternative—a must in the summer when heat and humidity make hair heavy and lifeless—and people with curls or kinks can use the texturizing spray as a hairspray alternative to rope in some long-lasting volume that actually moves in the summer breeze. It’s pricey, but a little bit does go a long way.The best part is that people with all hair textures can use it and enjoy Oribe’s splendor … and the unbelievable smell. Seriously, you’re going to want to skip the perfume and douse yourself in only this, forever.Splurge … on a professional dye job, especially if you’re going for a fun color.I don’t know about you guys, but my Pinterest boards have been dominated by purple ombre hair-spiration this summer. Every time I see somebody on the street rocking purple (or teal, or blue, or pink) hair, I make a vow to myself that this will be the summer I break out and go hair-crazy.
Well, temporarily, of course, because those fun colors are mostly hair stains that wash out after a week or two and require major color upkeep.Save … yourself the heartache of being asked “Did you dye your hair green on purpose?” at least 100 times a day.Trust me on this, I’m speaking from experience.Because I don’t have a patient bone in my body, I took matters into my own hands three weeks ago and gave myself a teal ombre 'do using hair chalk I bought on clearance at some secondhand store. Quick note: none of those words (DIY, hair chalk, clearance, secondhand store) should ever go together. Today I’m left with bright green highlights that won’t wash out. JOKER GREEN. So green, in fact, that I’m asked almost daily if I did it to myself on purpose.Cry.Take my advice: some hair chalk won’t wash out after one day, even if it says so on the package. And some teal hair chalk actually goes on lime green. Avoid all of this. Go to a salon. I mean it.Save … your boring old ponytail for the gym.Splurge … on summery braids and styles that get heavy hair off your neck.I tried learning how to french braid on an American Girl doll in grade school, and not only was I terrible at it, my efforts mangled Molly’s already pretty braids. Thankfully, knowing how to braid isn’t necessary to rock cool styles on humid days—most salons will do the dirty work for us, sometimes free at sponsored events or for a small fee after our regularly scheduled cut and style! Pro tip: Invest in a terrycloth-lined shower cap and a bit of dry shampoo, and you’ll be able to sleep on those braids for days.I don’t know about you guys, but I am all about a bargain braid … even if my hair is green. There are few things worse than feeling your hair product melt off your hair and slide down your neck, right?We want to hear your favorite summertime hair tips and splurges! Do you have a product you can’t live without? Is there a salon you want to shout about from the rooftops? Just no hair chalk tips, please—I learned that lesson the hard way.Top image: Messy rope braids by Meagan Tintari under CC BY 2.0

It happens all the time. In fact, we’ve probably all either seen it, done it, or thought about it: flirting with your hairstylist. And really, who could blame anyone? You see them on a regular basis in a laid-back place; you chat with them about movies and books and the cool things you each did last weekend. So yeah, there’s a good chance you’d want to know how to flirt with them. (Especially if they give a great scalp massage.)But then again, they’re at work. You’re paying them—part of their job is to be friendly. And there’s the whole business of having to search all over town for a replacement in the event you weird them out. So what’s a single person with hair to do? We asked three stylists whether you can ask them out and, if so, how to do it.Terra Therapos, stylist at The Circle Salon (a Groupon Editors’ Pick!)“Such a juicy topic,” Terra gushed. “I think flirting is always a compliment! As long as it is known that both parties are single, flirting is pretty harmless and creates a friendly rapport. … If the stylist flirts back, I would say it is game for asking them on a date.” Just make sure you’re prepared for whatever their response might be. “If it isn’t mutual and there were mixed signs, it may create awkwardness,” she said. “If you go on a date or two and it doesn’t work out, you [might] have to find a new stylist or … keep things casual and find humor in it later.”James Rosko, stylist at Fuga Italian Escape Salon & Spa (also a Groupon Editors’ Pick!)“I've been hit on and I think it's appropriate,” James said. His one caveat for would-be flirts: don’t assume every compliment is a come-on. “The relationship and trust between a client and hairdresser is like nothing else. Our job is to constantly make people feel better and beautiful. Some people might mistake it for sexual attraction.” That said, don’t be afraid to broach the subject. “A lighthearted comment on how [your stylist] looks or how much you appreciate them is always a nice way to start. Then definitely invite us out for drinks,” he laughed. “I'm a few people's hair husband.” Abby Mazer, stylist at Sport ClipsAbby, who works mostly with male clients, has kind of a Seinfeld stance on the whole thing. She’s not someone who would date her clients—not that there’s anything wrong with that. Just as two pals might not cross that line for fear of losing the friendship, she’d be hesitant to risk losing someone as a client.But Abby knows plenty of people who have dated and even married their stylists. “It happens a lot more than people are probably aware of,” Abby said. “I’ve had [flirting] happen to me where it’s been really obnoxious, they’ve asked for a booty call or whatever. … You get all different kinds of people. If you’re a real new client, maybe wait until you have more of a relationship with your stylist.”Her best advice? Just be cool about it. “It’s just like asking anyone out. You can read people. If the stylist is flirting back and you get the feeling that they’re interested, I think the client should just ask. In a nice way, a proper way. Do it right [in the chair], don’t take someone to the side or anything. Because then the whole salon will know and it becomes a whole big thing.”Illustration by Kelly MacDowell, Groupon

Bridesmaid. Just the word can send a shiver of terror down a young woman's spine. It’s easy to understand why: bridesmaids are pop-culture jokes, women who are forced into ugly, expensive dresses and made to wait on the bride's every whim. It’s a job that can ruin both friendships and credit scores. Even the most seemingly laid-back weddings can turn into stressful situations if the bride and her bridesmaids aren't on the same page.However, every wedding doesn't have to mean the end of a friendship. We asked Groupon Guide staffers and friends for their bad bridesmaid stories, so women planning their nuptials can learn from other brides' mistakes. Behold: the Bridesmaids' Bill of Rights.1. The Right to Not Go BrokeThe average bridesmaid gown costs $150, and that's before alterations and extras such as shoes, jewelry, and hair and makeup costs. Consider talking to your bridesmaids about their budget concerns so you know what they can reasonably afford to pay for a dress. Some brides try to save money by having their bridesmaids order dresses online, but this too can go awry. Many online dress stores only offer made-to-order styles that are final sale. One bridesmaid we polled was clearly upset about being forced to “buy a $200 dress that I cannot try on first and can't return if it doesn't fit. WHAT??"Tip for brides: Ordering online can save you money, but make sure the store's return policy will allow you to return the dress, like ideel does.2. The Right to Bare Arms (or Not)"Strapless gowns are a curse from the gods. Don't inflict them on your friends," responded one bridesmaid. Another had the opposite problem. Sure, she didn't have to keep yanking up her dress all night to avoid a wardrobe malfunction, but she couldn't move her arms: "My bridesmaid dress had cap sleeves in a very inflexible material. I couldn't lift my arms up very high and ended up with bruises on my arms the next morning."Yet another maid was forced to wear a dress she described as "one size fits all, quite revealing, and very expensive." Instead of feeling good about not having to wrestle with a sizing chart or attend fittings, it left her feeling "uncomfortable, poor, and a little shamed."These days, it’s relatively easy to find dress suppliers that feature an array of sizes and styles that will flatter everyone in your bridal party. If you’re asking brides to shell out a chunk of cash for a dress, they should at least feel good about their purchase.Tip for brides: Break out of the bridesmaid-dress rut and have your friends wear cocktail dresses that can easily be worn to another special occasion. No strapless bras or pain medication required.Bonus tip: Stuffed animals make great stand-ins when several of your maids decide to make a run for it.3. The Right to Snack"The bride and groom made the entire bridal party parade all over Indiana for four hours between the ceremony and reception to take pictures with absolutely NO food or drinks in the limo to tide them over," recalled one source we asked for a bridal-party horror story.Another bridesmaid echoed the sentiment. “The bridesmaids showed up at 9 a.m. to have hair and makeup done, but the ceremony wasn’t until 5 p.m. They kept promising sandwiches, but they never came. By the time the wedding started, we were all shaking in our heels.”Tip for brides: If you're going to treat bridesmaiding like a job, follow labor laws and give your friends a break and a snack. You don't want your reception to be remembered as the one where the maid of honor fainted because no one sprang for PB&J.4. The Right to be Treated Like a Friend ... Not a Literal “Maid” Bridesmaids have two jobs: walking in a straight line while holding a bouquet and cajoling people into joining in during the Chicken Dance. Many are happy to help with other aspects of the wedding, but anything extra should be treated as a courtesy, not an expectation. "The bridesmaids served the lunch at the shower," one person shared. Bottom line: bridesmaids are guests at the wedding, not hired hands. And waitressing isn't on the résumé.Tip for brides: There is absolutely nothing wrong with a buffet.5. The Right to be ReimbursedPrinting your own programs: a smart, money-saving tip. Asking your bridesmaid to print and collate the programs, then not paying her back for supplies: a jerk move. "I was asked to print all the programs for the wedding, including typing up the template and printing them out with my own ink," a bridesmaid responded.Tip for brides: Go semi-DIY with custom invites and programs. And if you do have a friend print them for you, pony up the cash.6. The Right to Realistic ExpectationsShowers, bachelorette parties, dress shopping—all pre-wedding activities that can be a lot of fun for a bride and her bridesmaids ... or a complete nightmare. The key to making sure everything goes smoothly? Communication. "I was asked to be the maid of honor for a friend's fiancée," one person shared. "Beyond the occasional arts-and-craft date, I knew very little about her. ... It became clear early on that we had very different tastes and expectations. Rather than providing me with more guidance, she would make me play these guessing games to figure out what she actually wanted for her showers, bachelorette party, and party favors. The whole experience was really taxing on everyone, herself included."But even if you do have a close relationship with your maid of honor, don’t just assume she's up for the task. "The bride decided to make both of her sisters co-maids of honor, knowing full well she didn't get along with one sister and that the other sister simply wouldn't want to do anything involving effort," one bridesmaid said. "The bride then asked another bridesmaid to do all the work the two maids of honor refused to do, including planning the bachelorette party and giving a toast because neither sister felt like doing it."Tip for brides: Don't put your bridesmaids through the paces. If you don't have an ideal candidate for a maid of honor, find an alternative arrangement, such as two friends splitting the tasks. And if you do end up choosing someone you're not very close to, set clear expectations and discuss your likes and dislikes right away.The only thing that could have made The Godfather more terrifying? Michael Corleone in a wedding dress.7. The Right to an ApologyWhen we sent out a call for bridesmaids stories, one bride responded that she had led her future sister-in-law to believe she would be a bridesmaid. While nothing was formally set, the sister-in-law was very excited. However, the bride ended up choosing other friends instead. "[My] sister-in-law was really hurt and embarrassed, and I felt TERRIBLE," the bride said. "I honestly don't know if she and I will ever be able to have the same kind of relationship after I let her down like that."This story, at least, has a happy ending. After thinking about this article, the aforementioned bride sent her sister-in-law an apology email, and there was good news: "Sister-in-law emailed me back and has totally forgiven me for the fiasco. I'm holding back tears; I'm so happy."Tip for brides: Weddings are stressful times. Mistakes will be made—just own up to them and genuinely apologize to your friends. Hopefully they'll be as gracious and forgiving as this sister-in-law.Say "I do" to these other wedding-etiquette guides:Miss Manner Sounds Off on Six Wedding TrendsThree Ways Engagement Rings Can Go Beyond a Diamond Solitaire